Improvement in cutlery



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MYRON W. 'LYMAN, GH IGA GO, I LLINOIS.

Letters Patent No. 110,986, dated January 17,1871.

' IMPROVEMENT IN cuTLERv.

The Schedule referred to'in these Letters Patent and making part of the same.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MYRON XV.' LYMAN, of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented anlmproved Cutlery; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable others skilled in the art to which my invention appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing forming part of this specification.

Figure l is plan view ot'a dirk-knife with the blade extendedpconstructed in accordance with my invention.-

, Figure 2 is aplan View ofthe two-cdged dirk-blade detached from the handle.

ligure 3 is a plan view of a hunting-blade having 'a single entti'ng-edge.

Figure 4 is a plan view of a pocket-knife having two or more blades.

Figure 5 is a plan view of the reversesid'e of iig. 4. Figure 6 is a perspective view of a four-bladed pocket-knife.

.Figures 7, 8, and 9 are detached views of parts to be ,hereinafter referred toV Similar letters of reference indicate Y'corresponding parts .in the several figures of the drawing. My -invention has for itsl object to improve the construction of cutlery, dental and surgical tools, Vand other instruments of like nature, whereby they are with a long and a short slot to accommodate the long rendered more economical in construction and efficient in operation.

It consists in theeonibination of devices by which one orinore sliding blades are adapted to be extended and withdrawn within the handle and locked in either position, as'will be hereinafter more fully described.

For convenience of description I have shown my invention, in the accompanying drawing, applied to 'several varieties of knives; but it -must be understood that, while the description isuconiined to the devices shown', the invention is applicable 4to surgical' and dental tools and every variety lof cutlery.

A is the handle, and

13, the blade of adirk-knii'e. l

The handle A is constructed in one or more pieces, with all itssides and one end closed, or not, as may seem best in making. v

The shank C of the blade is attened or otherwise formed to correspond with -the longitudinal recess `formed Vin the handle, as shown by dotted lines fig. 1.

rIhe shank of the blade isinserted in the end of the handle, and lits the same with close contact.

It is secured in place in the following manner:

D is a narrow slot formed longitudinally through one side of the handle, with short rectangular terminations near each end of the latter.

Through .these slots the shank of a screw, F, is inserted, which screws into a small block or plate, G, adapted to fit snugly within a groove, H, formed `transversely through one side of the bladesliank C.

I is a coiled or other suitably-shaped spring, asv shown in fig. 7, placed within the groove H, between the side of the handle and the plate G.

When the blade is extended, as shown in iig. 1, the spring I forces the screw-shank into the short angular-portion of the slot D, and holds the blade firmly in position against the possibility-of closing derstood.

By this arrangement the handle may be grasped in one hand and the blade opened or closed by one niotion of the thumb. l

In ligA-a three-bladed knife is shown, with the slots D arranged to accommodate the necessary blades.

One side, as shown in the figure, is provided with two short slots, while Ethe reverse side, as shown .in fig. 5, is formed with a slot to accommodate the long blade. 1

'In a fonr-bladed knife one side maybe provided blade and the file-blade,- as will be understood without further description.

Any number of' blades of any desired form may be applied to a hahdle in the most simple and effectual manner.

By my invention the back spring, employed in common pocket-knives to hold the blades open and closed, is dispensed with, thereby not only reducing the cost of construction, but also avoiding the liability of blades becoming loose and inoperative in the handle, or shutting up and cutting the ngers when used by careless or inexperienced persons.

It -also does away with the method of attaching the blades to handles by rivets, and therefore renders the connection of the parts much stronger and less liable to become displaced.

u IIn pocket-knives, as usually constructed,`the shank of the blade, when the latter is'openedJ extends somewhat beyond the handle, and, therefore, reduces thel length oi' Ithe .cutting-edge.

' By my invention the cutting-edge extends to the handle, while theshank `is entirely within the latter,

whereby a cutting-edge is formed next t-he handle,

that being the point atwhieh it ismost effective.'

The whole length of the blade is shortened somewhat, but the cutting-edge is equal in length to that vof the ordinary knifefblade. It is, therefore, apparent I that the length of handle is not increased.

When the blades are closed or drawn into the handle there are no projecting parts to cnt and wear the pocket, as in the ordinary knives.

One ofthe greatest advantages gained by my invention in the manufacture of cutlery is that all the palts, with the exception of the blades, can easily be made by machinery, instead of by the expensive handlabor nowemployed.A l

This, therefore, cheapens materially the .cost of manufacture, while VitY admits the duplication Vof blades and parts at a trilling expense. y

The facility with which the knife can be opened renders it of much", value, inasmuch as ywomen and children can easily extend or close the blades without injury to the finger-nails.

,Having thus described my invention,

ters Patent, is v In combination with a slotted handle, one or more blades having a transverse. groove, H, the spring I,

scribed, for the purpose specified.

Witnesses:

J. EDWARDS FAY, STILLMAN R. BINGHAM.

WhatI claim as new, and desire to secure by Letplate G, and operating-screw F, substantially as de# MYRON W-JLYMA Y 

